Texas Correctional Officer Fatally Injured By Inmate, Prison Says

On Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at approximately 9 a.m., a Correctional Officer at the Telford Unit in New Boston, Texas, was allegedly physically assaulted by an offender as he was leading him back to his cell from the dayroom. Forty-seven-year-old Timothy Davison suffered serious injuries and was transported to Christus St. Michael’s Health System in Texarkana, Texas, where he later died.

The inmate allegedly managed to get control of an iron bar and used it to assault the officer.

“Our hearts are deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. This dedicated Correctional Officer came to work each day determined to make Texas a safer place to live. I would ask the public to please keep the officer’s family and the entire TDCJ family in your prayers during this difficult time,” said Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of officer Davison. It is in times like these that we fully understand the dangers that our officers face each day while on the job,” said Oliver Bell, Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. “We will see to it that the offender who is responsible for this murder is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The alleged killer is 37-year-old Billy Joel Tracy who is already serving a life sentence for Aggravated Assault and Burglary of a Habitation. Tracy was also convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Assault with Serious Bodily Injury on a Public Servant, and Possession of a Deadly Weapon in a Penal Institution and is serving 45 years for these offenses.

He has been temporarily moved from the Telford Unit to another Texas Department of Criminal Justice unit.